Clinching tool



Feb, 23, 1965 H. A. BALlNsKl 3,170,152

CLINCHING Toor.

Filed Jan. 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l N VEN TOR /c/zr'y Bali/:SL15 BY Feb. 23, 1965 H. A. BALlNsKl 3,170,162

CLINCHING TOOL.

Filed Jan. 25, 1963 United States Patent O aimiezv CLrNCHiNG rooL Illinois l Filed Jan. 2S, 1963, Ser. No. 253,811 14 Claims. (Cl. 1-260) This invention relates to tools adapted for yapplying angular cross section metal strips in building constructions, and more particularly to improved tools for applying angular strips such as corner beads, plaster grounds, trim strips and the like by striking tangs from anges of the strips and forcing these tangs into subjacent building elements, such as gypsum board.

Tools Vof the type to which this invention pertains should insure that strips applied therewith will be in snug engagement with the subjacent building elements and securely held in place. Further, the anges of the applied strips should be maintained at and smooth to'facilitate application of subsequent structural and/ or finishing elements such as overlying gypsum boards, plaster, or joln't finishing compound. This latter aspect is particularlyimportant when applying corner beads in drywall construcy tions as the resultant corners normally must be finished smooth by application of a thin vfinish layer of joint tape and joint compound or joint compound only. Further, the tool itself should be of inexpensive, rugged construction, should be simple and easy to use, and should facilitate rapid application of the strips.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved tool meeting the requirements outlined above. y

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved clinching tool adapted to apply corner strips by forming tangsfrom the strip flanges and driving the tangs into subjacent building elements.

It is another object of this invention to provide an irnproved clinching tool adapted to apply corner strips which insures snug engagement of the strips with subjacent structure.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved clinching tool adapted to apply corner strips by forming and driving tangs therefrom and which avoids the formation of bumps, burrs, ridges or other protrusions on the exposed surfaces of the strips.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved clinching tool meeting the aforementioned requrements which is simple to use and facilitates rapid and effective application of angular strips,

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved clinching tool of rugged construction and which is inexpensive to fabricate.

In carrying out this invention in one illustrative form, a clinching tool is provided which includes a body comprising a pair of angularly disposed sides, a pair of punch carrier members pivotally mounted at the apex of the angle defined by said sides and each including a punch element reciprocable along a path of movement extending inwardly of said body transversely of yan generally normal to the plane of one of said sides, and driving means adapted to move the punch elements inwardly of said body along said paths in response to force applied to the driving means in a direction toward the tool body.

j For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should now be had to the examples illustrated in the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool embodying teachings of this invention, v

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of va portion of a wall construction including a corner bead as applied with the tool of FIG. l,

.Patented Feb.V 23, 1965 FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the body member of the tool in FIG. l, j,

FIG. 4 is an end View of the tool in FIG. l, omitting the striking cap,

FIG. 5 is an end view similar to FIG. 4, with the operative parts in changed position and including a partial cross section view of a Wall corner with a corner bead being applied,

FIG. 6 is an end View of the striking bar drive member of the tool in FIG. 1, FIG. 7 is a side View of the striking bar of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is an end view of a punch tooth and carrier element of the tool in FIG. l,

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the tooth and carrier element of FIG. 8, Y

FIG. 10 isan end view of the tooth and adjacent portion of the carrier element of FIG. 8, and

FIG. Il isa perspective view of a modified tool embodying teachings of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the improved tool ltl` illustrated in FIG. l is designed to secure corner beads to underlying building elements, for instance as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

The corner bead 12 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5 includes a bulbous center ridge or bead 12a which may serve as a ground, and a pair of anges 13.` The yflanges I3 overliethe adjacent edges of two gypsum boards ,I4 which4 are secured to a stud or other supporting member I6. YKey openings 18 in the flanges permit subsequently applied finishing materials such asv joint compound to bond to the subjacent gypsum boards through the flanges. The bead I2 is secured in position by tangs 19 struck from the flanges as at 2lb and forced into the subjacent boards 14, this securing means normallybeing in lieu of nails, screws or other conventional, independent fasteners.

The tool lil includes a main frame or body 2.2, shown l in FIG. 3, and comprising integral sides 24 and 26 extending at substantially right angles to one another. One end 27 of the body-22 serves as a handle portion. The other or head end is formed with a transverse slot 23 extending from the juncture of the two sides at the apex of the body toward the distal edges of each side. A pair of drivers 30 and 32 are disposed in slot 28 and pivotally mounted on a pivot pin (not shown) extending transversely of the slot 23 at the apex of the body in bore 36, and each driver is pivotally connected to a striking bar S3. The bore 36 extends Vto one exposed end of the body as shown in FIG. 3 for convenient insertion and removal of the pivot pin whichis held in place by a Yscrew closure element 38 fitting in the end of the bore (FIGS. 4 and 5).

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, `each driver includes a' body 40 which serves as a carrier for .a cutter tooth 42. The carriers are formed with mating recesses as at 44 around bores 46 which are adapted to receive the pivot pin. These recesses permit cooperative mounting of two opposed drivers in slot 28 with both drivers pivotally mounted on the pin at the apex of the body. Each carrier is also formed with a stop extension 50 designed to overlie the respective body side beyond slot 28, and with a notch as at 52 which cooperates with a corresponding groove 54 inthe body 22 to receive the bead or ground 12a of a corner bead. Each carrier is also formed with a bore 56 for pivotal connection to the striking bar drive element 58.

The striking bar 58, shown in detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, comprises an integral metal member having two extensions 60 divided by a recess 62 to fit generally astraddle the body 22 over slot 28 as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. A slot 64 extends transversely through the element 58 and divides each extension 60 into two legs 65 and 66 adapted to straddle the respective carrier 40. The legs 65 and 66 are formed with aligned bores 70 and 72 therethrough, see FIG. 7. When the tool is assembled, as in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, pins 74 extend through aligned bores 56, 70 and 72 to pivotally join the drivers 30 and 32 to the striking bar 58. The pins 74 are somewhat smaller than the receiving bores for purposes to be later noted and may be maintained in position by suitable means such as snap rings or pins (not shown). The upper or bottom surface of slot 64 includes a planar central portion 75 and upwardly or rearwardly inclined end portions 76 and 7S forming shoulders as at Si) and 82. The upper or top portion 84 of the bar 53 is provided with an anvil surface S5 oriented substantially normal to the bisector of the included angle between sides 24 and 26. Portion 84 is suitably formed to withstand repeated application of impact blows, and may be covered with resinous or other suitable materials, such as the striking cap 85a illustrated in FIG. 1, to absorb blows from hammers, mallets or the like without shattering or deforming. The cap 85a may be molded over portion 84 or may comprise a snap-on resilient element.

A bent wire compression spring 36 is mounted on each side of the striking bar 58. Each of these springs rests in a groove 88 formed in the body 22 and engages the respective ends of pins 74 to bias the drivers 30 and 32 and striking bar 5S to the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 4. Engagement of the top edge 90 of the carriers 40 with the inclined surfaces 76 and 78 of the striking bar limits the upward movement of these parts relative to the body, note FIG. 4.

The illustrated tool is normally operated by positioning it over and pressing it against a corner bead disposed over a corner formed by a pair of boards as illustrated in FIG. 2, and then delivering an impact blow, such as with a hammer to the portion 84 or cap 85a of the striking bar 58. The force of the blow is transmitted from the striking bar to the drivers through the contact between the bottom of slot 64 and the adjacent edges 90 of the carriers 40, and thereby causes the drivers to rotate from the tooth-retracted position of FIG. 4 to the tooth-extended position shown in FIG. 5. Shoulders St) and 82 provide pivotal or rocking engagement between the striking bar and the carrier edges 90 during transition between the retracted and extended positions of FIGS. 4 and 5, and engagement of surface 75 with edges 90 serves a stop function to prevent further inward, operative rotational movement of the carriers 40, note FIG. 5. In the event the effective resultant force of the operative impact blow tends to rotate one driver inwardly in preference to the other driver, the respective stop element 50 will engage body 22 to limit the inward movement of the favored driver and the respective tooth 42 whereupon the opposite driver and tooth will normally proceed to substantially their intended degree of inward extension.

The bores 56, 70 and 72, and pins 74 are disposed at opposite sides of the apex of the body and thus at yopposite sides of the pivot axis of the drivers. The arcs of movement of bores S6 between the retracted and extended positions embrace and are approximately centered on radii of the arcs normal to the bisector of the included angle between sides 24 and 26. The paths of movement of bores 70 and 72 are substantially normal to the same radii. This minimizes lateral relative movement between the striking bar and the carriers at the points of pivotal connection therebetween during normal operation of the tool. Such lateral relative movement as is necessary is provided for by the loose fit of pins 74 in the bores 56, 70 and 72.

Each illustrated tooth or punching element 42 is integral with the respective body or carrier 40 and comprises a root portion 92 and an end portion 94. The outer end portion 94 is formed with a flat cutter or punching surface 96 inclined outwardly from the root, the root being formed with an arcuate leading edge as at 98. Surface 96 is of generally triangular conguration, being narrowest at the leading point 96a furthest removed from the pivot axis to facilitate penetration of the bead flanges. The leading edge of the tooth widens inwardly from the point a to strike out triangular tangs joined to the bead flanges -at their bases. The leading surface 98 of root portion 92 is arcuate, with its leading portion 93a, at the junction with surface 96, being tangent to an intersecting arc centered at the pivot axis. Arcuate surface 98 serves primarily to set the tangs which are almost entirely punched out by surface 96. The sides of root portion 92 flare outwardly along radii at their juncture with carrier 40, as indicated at 99 in FIG. 10, and serve to turn the iiange edges inwardly around the openings 20.

Both cutter teeth 42 move along arcs centered on the pivot pin at the apex of the body. The pivot axis for the movement of each tooth thus lies in the plane of the respective side of the body and hence near the plane of the flange to be penetrated. At the same time the pivot axis is spaced a maximum distance from the point of tooth penetration, within the confines of the tool. This results in the teeth 42 reciprocating along paths which are substantially normal to the respective sides of the tool as the cutters move from their retracted to their extended positions, whereby the cutters will penetrate bead flanges disposed parallel to the respective sides in a direction of movement substantially normal to the bead flanges.

Referring specifically to FIG. 5, when the tool is operated to apply a corner bead as aforedescribed, each tooth 42 strikes out a triangular tang 19 and forces the tang to a inal position wherein the base portion 19a conforms closely to the extended portion of surface 98, generally at right angles to the respective side of the body and to the respective bead flange, and the distal end portion 19!) conforms to the surface 96.

In one specific embodiment of this invention of the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 herein, a satisfactory tool for applying 11/8" drywall corner beads was constructed with a right angular cross section, integral body 3/8 thick and having sides 2" wide in the area of the transverse slot 28. The slot 28 extended 1/32 each side of the apex, and bore 36 was centered %2 from the outer surface of each side. Drivers 30 and 32 and striking bar 53 were formed of tool steel. The surface 96 of each tooth extended from about 1.22 to about 1.32" from the centerline of Vbore 56 and hence from the pivot axis. The root portion 92 of each tooth was formed with an arcuate surface 98 of 0.140l radius, and the outer inclined surface 96 of each tooth extended at an angle of about 150 to a radius extending from the pivot axis through portion 93a.

The effective cutting and forming surface of each tooth 42 in the above embodiment reciprocated along an arcuate path at an angle of between about 70 and 90 to the inner surface of the respective side of the body as it moved between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Tangs 19 formed and set with this tool were approximately S/s Vlong and each included a base portion 19a (FIG. 5) generally at right angles to the respective side of the body with a distal end portion 19h at an angle of about 55 to the respective side. The flanges of beads attached with this tool were maintained flat and snug against subjacent boards, and the edges of openings 20 were smooth and turned slightly inward.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 is adapted for attaching only one flange of a trim strip, for instance a trim strip such as that described in U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,725,607 to Mummert. In describing this tool similar parts will be referred to by the same numbers utilized in describing the embodiment of FIG. l, but with the pretix 1.

The embodiment includes a frame 122 having a side tion. The spring 1m80 is secured on the body by a clip 181.

It will thus be seen that a clinching tool has been provided lwhich is of rugged and simple construction. This tool is adapted to translate an impact blow or other force applied in a direction toward the apex of an underlying bead and toward the subjacent structure into forces for driving the tang-forming teeth through the flanges of the bead with a punching action, substantially normal to the planesof the bead langes. The direction of action of the driving force together with the direction of movement of the teeth in forming and setting the tangs insures that the beads will be maintained in snug relation with the subjacenty structure during and subsequent to the application operation. The direction of movement of the teeth in punching out and setting the tangs, being inward of and substantially normal to the respective anges of the beads, also insures that no burrs, ridges or other protrusions will be formed on the flanges to interfere with subsequent finishing of the corner, and the configuration of the teeth provides smoothly inturned edges around each tang opening. Since the tool is adapted to punch the tangs out of the body of the anges, the width of the llanges is not critical and a tool of a given size may be used on strips with flanges of varying widths. By way f illustration, while the tangs are normally struck from the area contiguous to the flange edges as at 20 in FIG. 2, vwith the tool -they may also be struck from an inner area as at 26a. Further, the tool can beutilized to rapidly and efficiently apply beads simply by firmly pressing the tool against a bead positioned over a corner and then striking the anvil or drive element to form and set tangs as the tool is moved along the length of the bead.

While particular embodiments of this invention are shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made by those skilled in this art in light of the teachings set forth herein. `It is contemplated therefore by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A clinching tool comprising a body including two angularly disposed sides, a punch member reciprocable along a path of movement generally normal to one of said sides from a retracted position to a position extending inwardly of said one of said sides, and drive means for moving said punch member inwardly of said side along said path in response to force applied to said drive means in a direction generally toward said body.

2. A clinching tool as in claim l, and wherein said punch member is carried by a punch carrier mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending along the apex of the angle defined by said sides.

3. A clinching tool as in claim 2, and said drive means being adapted to drive said punch member inwardly along said path in response to force applied to said drive means in a direction toward said apex.

4. A clinching tool comprising a body including two angularly disposed sides, a pair of punch members, one of said punch members being reciprocable along a path of movement generally normal to one of said sides from a retracted position to a position extending inwardly of said one side and the other of said punch members being reciprocable along a path of movement generally normal to the other of said sides from a retracted position to a position extending inwardly of said other side, and drive means for moving said punch members inwardly of said sides along said paths in response to force applied to said drive means in a direction toward said body.

5. A clinching tool as in claim v4, and wherein said drive means is adapted to drive said'punch members ini wardlyof said sidesalong said paths in response to an impact blow applied to said drive means.

6. A clinching tool adapted tostrike tangs from the` anges of angular beads and to drive such tangs into subjacent structure comprising a body adapted to fit over such corner beads and including two angularly disposed sides to overlie the anges of such beads, a punch member limited in movement to a path extending substantially normal to one of said sides from a retracted position to a position extending inwardly of said one of said sides, drive means for driving said punch member inwardly of said body along such path in response to force applied to said drive means in a direction toward said body to strike tangs from a corner bead llange underlying said one of said sides and to drive such tangs inwardly of said one side.

7. A clinching tool adapted to strike tangs from the flanges of angular beads and to drive such tangs into subjacent structure comprising a body adapted to fit over such beads and including two joined right-angularly disposed sides adapted to overlie the flanges of such beads, a pair of punch members mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending along the apex of said body, said punch members being disposed on opposite sides of said axis and each movable in a path extending inwardly of the respective one of said sides, drive means for simultaneously driving said punch members inwardly of said body along such paths in response to force applied to said drive means in a direction toward said body to strike tangs from bead flanges underlying said sides and to drive such tangs inwardly of said sides.

8. A clinching tool comprising a body including two angularly disposed sides, a pair of carrier members mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending along the apex of the angle defined by said sides and each including a cutter tooth, one of said carrier members being pivotable along an arc of movement wherebythe respective cutter tooth may be extended inwardly of said body from one of said sides and retracted, the other of A retracted, an anvil member extending transversely of saidY body and operatively connected to said carriers for driving said carrier members andteeth inwardly of said body in response to force applied to said anvil member in a direction toward said apex.

9. A clinching tool as in claim 8 and including means biasing said punch members to a retracted position.

10. A clinching tool as in claim 8 and wherein each of said teeth includes a first leading surface extending substantially at right angles to a line passing through said rst surface and said axis, and a second leading surface inclined outwardly from said first surface with respect to said axis.

1l. A clinching tool as in claim 8 and wherein the leading and side edges of each of said teeth flare outwardly adjacent the respective carrier.

12. A clinching tool comprising a body including two angularly disposed sides, a pair of carrier members mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending along the apex of the angle defined by said sides and each including a cutter tooth, one of said carrier members being pivotable along an arc of movement whereby the respective cutter tooth may be extended inwardly of said body from one of said sides and retracted, the other of said carrier members being movable along an arc of movement whereby the respective tooth may be extended inwardly of said body from the other of said sides and retracted, an anvil member extending transversely of said body and overlying said carriers for driving said carrier members and teeth inwardly of said body in response to force applied to said anvil member in a direction toward said apex, said carrier member each including an edge surface disposed toward said anvil member, said anvil member formed with carrier engaging surfaces including portions normally disposed parallel to and in engagement with said carrier edge surfaces when said teeth are retracted and a portion normally disposed parallel to and in engagement with said carrier edge surfaces when said teeth are extended inwardly of said body.

13. A clinching tool as in claim 12 and wherein each of said carriers includes a stop element engageable with said body to limit the extension of the respective tooth inwardly of said body.

, 14. A clinching tool as in claim 1 and wherein said punch member includes a first leading surface extending substantially parallel to said path of movement, and a second leading surface extending angularly outwardly from said first surface in a direction away from the apex of the angle defined by said sides.

Larrabee Nov. 11, 1958 Richman et al. July 12, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,170,162 February 23, 1965 Henry A. Balnski 1t is hereby certified that err ent requiring correction and that th corrected below.

or appears in the a bo've numbered pate said Letters Pate nt should read as Column 1,

line 59, for "an" read and 4, for "member" column 7, line read -e members Signed and sealed this 27th day of July 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A CLINCHING TOOL COMPRISING A BODY INCLUDING TWO ANGULARLY DISPOSED SIDES, A PUNCH MEMBER RECIPROCABLE ALONG A PATH OF MOVEMENT GENERALLY NORMAL TO ONE OF SAID SIDES FROM A RETRACTED POSITION TO A POSITION EXTENDING INWARDLY OF SAID ONE OF SAID SIDES, AND DRIVE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PUNCH MEMBER INWARDLY OF SAID SIDE ALONG SAID PATH IN RESPONSE TO FORCE APPLIED TO SAID DRIVE MEANS IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY TOWARD SAID BODY. 